Hibam dowlfi



H. DOWNING.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY|9,1919.

Patented oct. 7,1919.

" v me/WLM akmus v fr tiranni nowigirive, or sroKAivE, WASHINGTON.

To all who??? may concern;`

VBe it known thatL'HmAM a citizen'l ofv the` United States, residing at Spokane, inl the county ofV Spolmne A and State of Washingtom have invented Vcertain new andv useful `Imp movements inl Animal- 'lraps, .of whiclithe'followingisa specifica- The V4present .O ffsuch devices.

tion.

proved animal trap for Jrats,`;mji` ce,` and :other rodents, andis ofthe self and ever'fset type The primary object ofthe ile-the provision of a trap of this character that 1s Vreliable an-d sure in operatiom comparatively simple in` construction and inexpensive` 1n Y cost, durable, and withal a comparatively perfect mechanism for accomplishing lits purposes. Y y A l The invention consists essentially in a trap as described utilizing a tiltable Vplatform'in connection with a supporting box or trap,

and specially constructed approaches to the trap which co-act with the tiltableplatform to hold it inoperative until the proper instant and `then to release the platform vto plunge the unsuspecting rodent into the trap, all as willV be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. Y

A In the accompanying drawin sone complete example ofthe physical em odiment of the invention is illustrated, the partsbeing combined and arranged according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application vof the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a transverse vsectionalv view through thebox or trap, showing `the approaches in full elevation. Y

FigLQ is an end view of the trap.

Fig.3 is a perspective view of a fragment V1 ofthe trap showing the relation thereto of the inclined approaches.V

In the preferred form of the illustrated in Vthedraw'ing the box or. trap 1 isof proper shape and dimensions and practically openat the top, except as willbe hereinafter stated, and this box is provided at a central point with thel transversely ar :ranged arch or hoop 2 secured at the sides.`

thereof, and thebail has-spring fingers 3 in which the bait maybe clamp'e Y Extending longitudinally ofthe box or trap'is a metallic Vplatform 4 that is tiltable and is supported in the sides offthe box on the rock bar 5 forming a pivot or fulcrum point for the platform, and a counterbalance i 'fapiiucatianieiiiframe,191e. serial rm.'298,177...A

invention relates te en Aiminvention L. NIMALFTRAR spcricuongof'reae'rsPatent. Patent@ @ce 47,1919,

level as is well understood, y Extenfdmg' along the sides of the tiltable platform are a pairofcurved flanges 7.-#7 on e is arabia una@ the piatta-m t; hele? a the arcpf a circle withfthe pivot rod as a center, which act as guards for the preve`n- ,tion of escape of the trapped rodent.,V

The approachto this tiltableplatfo-rimfor I the rodent, is by way of oppositelydisposed inclined waysor boards; 8 and 9,',vvh'ich 'are jduplex in character, and 'each is Eprovided with a bottom spur 10'to hold itfagainstdisplacement, and the upper ends' ofthese inclined ways are formed as horizontally dissurface ofthe side strips 11a of the trap' and spring pins 12 extending beneath these platform strips 11. Preferably the upper edge of the side wall of the trap is notched as at 12 in order that the upper end of the inclined approach may, normally, lie fiushwith the top boards 11L and yet be elevated above the side walls of the box.

VAt 12a it will be seen that 'the horizontal platform strip 11 is in frictional contact with the tiltable platform, and whena rodent approaches the bait, as long as his weight is on the inclined,'spring supported approach, the latter is depressed, with the spur 10 asa pivot, and the friction at point 12aV is sufficient to hold the platform against tilting. However, when the rodent, lured by the bait,

unsuspectingly steps off the inclined approa-ch, .the tiltable platform is freed from frictional contact therewith, with the result that Vthe rodent or animal overcomes the i equilibrium of the tiltable platform and is 14 and Va lower complementary pair 15 for the Aslide cover 16,"and it will be seen that when set for a rodent, the slide cover is out of the way under the bottom of the drawer, but when a rodent is caught the slide cover may be withdrawn through the slot 17 from 4its lower'position, and shoved through an upper slot 18 into the grooves 14 of the drawer to form a cover for the drawer to prevent escape of the trapped rodent.

The Vparts of the devi-ce are so proportioned that the bait is held sufficiently distant from the platform that it cannot be reached until and unless the rodent walks on the tiltable platform, and thenof course he (posed. platformstrips 1l, `flush witlrthejtop lio is plunged to'his destination before he can reach the bait, thus ysaving the bait. Y However the bait must be placed within the proper distance to tempt the rodent, Vso that he will unsuspectingly step off the pla-tform lonto the tiltable platform.

l. The combination with thebox trap having a tiltable platform and bait support thereabove, of adepressible approach held normallyelevated and enga-ging said platform'to prevent tilting while the animal is on the approach and to allow of tilting when the rodent steps from the'approach to the platform;

f 2. The combination with the box trap havingl a tiltable platform and bait support thereabove, ofV an inclined depressible approachfheld normally elevated and engaging the platform to prevent tilting While the animal is on the approach and to' allow of tilting thereof when the rodent Steps from the Copies of this patent may be obtained for approach to the platform, said box being notched to receive the approach and a spring beneath the approa-ch to hold it elevated, as

described.

3. The combination with the box trap and removable drawer therein and said trap having a tiltable platform and a bait support thereabove, of an inclined approach having a spur resting on a suitable support to act as a pivot when theappr'ach is depressedysaid approach having an upper level end portion flush with the top of the tiltable platform and topof the box and the side walls of the box notched to receive thisV end, and elevatingsprings between the level end of the approach and box wall, said level end engaging the tiltable platform to prevent tilting while the animal ison the approach and to -allow Y of tiltingthereof when the rodent steps from the approach to the tiltable platform.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HIRAM DOWNING.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 2D. C. 

